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1st Friday Favorite Guru: Geary A. Rummler

This month – August 2012 – we start on the First Friday with another of my favorite gurus…

Geary Rummler

I had a great relationship with Geary. He was one of my many mentors.

I first met Geary at an NSPI Conference in Dallas in April 1980. I was working alongside his brother-in-law at Wickes Lumber in Saginaw and two who had worked with his brother Rick at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in Detroit. When I left Wickes and joined Motorola in the spring of 1981 I got a chance to work with Geary (and Carol Panza) on a bunch of projects – as they were “my” consultants – meaning I got to carry their pencils. Here we are in Phoenix at my boss’ office in 1982.

Here is my copy of “Serious Performance Consulting” which I bought at the ISPI Conference bookstore at the Tampa Conference in 2004 – which happened to be “my” conference – for as President it was my job to pick a theme and pick the Keynote Speakers.

One of the Many Things I Learned From Geary

I think perhaps his most famous contribution, something he developed with his college buddy, Dale Brethower, is the General Systems Model. Once I asked Geary why Dale and he had separately published this model with their own copyrights on it. Who created it, I asked. Geary told me that he believed that Dale was holding the marker pen when they were creating this on flip chart paper.

Here is a version of that, created by my graphic artist on staff for the CADDI Winter 2000 Newsletter, available – here.

What I Also Learned From Geary

I learned from Geary many things in projects when I was at Motorola in 1981-2. We worked on a half-dozen or so efforts – and they were always a great learning experience. The adaptable mental models he used for analysis data – that he drew out on paper; and the daily debriefings and postulations and planning for confirmation. He bought books for me that he thought I should read. We worked together on several ISPI Committees and Task Forces. He gave me work and I found work for him with a couple of my clients.

He reviewed my book “lean-ISD” face-to-face with me in his Tucson office and then by himself after I left. He wrote a great review for the book and my ISD methods – and he also designed a new book cover – without my prompting. He was always so generous.

2003 Article in the ISPI PIJ – co-authored by Geary A. Rummler and Guy W. Wallace – that kicked-off a Society-wide, multi-year effort that I began as President-Elect of ISPI; an effort that became known later as the Presidential Initiative to “Clarify HPT.” Based on a 1983 article by Rummler on using Technology Domains to define HPT, which Geary allowed me to pick up and re-start (after warning me of his view of the futility of the effort – yet he joined with me and got very involved in the multiple F2F and virtual meetings conducted over the span the entire effort).

Another Video: Geary Rummler on Needs Analysis – 1986

More Video: Geary Rummler on Performance Engineering – 1986

My Favorite Memories of Geary

Debriefings about the day’s discoveries/confirmations – before, during and after dinner. And chats about fictional books we were reading, including the Travis McGee Series (John MacDonald). He bought a copy of The Right Stuff for me in a Florida airport so we could discuss the book.

He sent me my first Robert Parker book, a few months after I had left Motorola …

Many of us recall the stick figures he drew representing “people.”

Dinners with him at NSPI/ISPI Conferences (Spring and Fall) over the years.

Walks around the block where his office was located in Summit NJ after lunch.

Walks on a desert trail in AZ after lunch.

And many, many more memories.

And – he (re)designed my 1999 book cover – unasked for but gratefully accepted – for lean-ISD…

And he wrote a great quote for the book’s marketing.

And one of his most famous quotes…

Share Your Stories

If Geary has been a valuable influence and/or resource for you – please share your stories about that in the comments section below. And thank you for sharing!

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My First Friday Favorite Guru Series – My Thanks & Attributions to 42

These 42 individuals are the professionals who have knowingly and unknowingly influenced me the most. Click on the image for links to those 42 posts.

Guy W. Wallace

Performance Analyst & Instructional Architect - Since 1979

External Consultant - Since 1982. Semi-Retired in January 2016.

Guy has served over 80 clients including over 45 F500 firms since November 1982.

Recipient of the ISPI - the International Society for Performance Improvement - Honorary Life Member Award - 2010 - for contributions to the Society and to the Technology for Performance Improvement (PI).

Founding member of ASQ’s Influential Voices Initiative - 2010. Served through 2015.

Guy W. Wallace collaborates with his Clients using predictable, visible, proven processes on time and on budget.

Client work won awards for AT&T, General Motors, Siemens Building Technologies.

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Recipient of ISPI’s 2010 Honorary Life Member Award

The top ISPI award, was awarded for contributions to both the technology of performance improvement and to the Society - as unanimously approved by two consecutive boards of the Society. Awarded in 2010.

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